Content about Plant Biology

"Because of their small size, many of the top-ranked institutions are also nimble. Rather than isolating researchers in individual laboratories, they literally knock down the walls to encourage collaboration."

The Carnegie Institution at Stanford has been ranked one of the best places in academia to work. You can read more about this ranking in this recent article published in The Scientist.

When glaciers advanced over much of the Earth’s surface during the last ice age, what kept the planet from freezing over entirely? This has been a puzzle to climate scientists because leading models have indicated that over the past 24 million years geological conditions should have caused carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to plummet, possibly leading to runaway “icehouse” conditions. Now researchers writing in the July 2, 2009, Nature report on the missing piece of the puzzle – plants.

Palo Alto, CA— When glaciers advanced over much of the Earth’s surface during the last ice age, what kept the planet from freezing over entirely? This has been a puzzle to climate scientists because leading models have indicated that over the past 24 million years geological conditions should have caused carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to plummet, possibly leading to runaway “icehouse” conditions. Now researchers writing in the July 2, 2009, Nature report on the missing piece of the puzzle – plants.

Michelle Davison, a 3rd year graduate student in the Bhaya/Grossman lab has received a SCORE grant from the Biology Department to support her dissertation research. The title of her grant is "A 'Heated' Arms Race: Analysis of Viral Warfare in a Hot Spring Microbial Mat Community". The purpose of these grants is to "allow students flexibility in exploring and developing innovative research projects, particularly in their first three years at Stanford". All SCORE recipients will participate in a symposium held by the Department in Fall 2009.